Reading Papers In Lodges

Paper 22/2007 Title Reading Papers in Lodges Author Bro S.K. Char – India When Lodges are busy with the rituals, they usually have no time for anything else. When they have no candidates, they find it difficult to know what else to do. In a Temple one can only talk about Freemasonry. During the rituals we tell candidates that that they must make an attemp t to make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge. This can be done if one finds time to read about it in the library, or else get someone who has time and inclination to read, to write papers and read it in the lodge, or from conversations with a senior. To read a paper in the Lodge, we have to allocate time for it and for the discussion to follow. For me the discussion is important bec ause one can find if ones interpretati on coincides with those of the others, and more importantly to know the opinion of others and thereby learn more about the subject one has read. When I write papers on Freemasonry, it is mainly for my personal reasons. I am sure many of you know more about it than I do; but Freemasonry is a difficult subject as it is shrouded in secrecy and hidden behind allegories and symbols and requires a leaning towards spirituality and philosophy to understand. Even the rituals are play acting as it is said. All this means that one requires to interpret for oneself what one has learnt in the lodge. The interpretation varies from brother to br other depending on his background. Hence when I read something on Freemasonry, I write it down in the form of a paper because by writing down what one reads, one is better able to grasp and understand t he subject. It is like reading aloud to oneself during exams. Having put it on paper, I wanted to know what ot her brothers think of my interpretation, and what better way than to read it out as a paper and wait fo r comments. There is also another reason for this --- when I hear the comments from the other brethren, it will educate me in the other interpretations which may not have occurred to me. This would be a good way of learning more about Freemasonry than what one reads and thinks one understands. By sharing the knowledge with other s, one learns more about the subject. There is a third advantage in reading pape rs on Freemasonry. There may be few who may not have had the time or energy to read; they may become interested in reading for themselves after hearing the discussions. This is like a continuing educ ation in many professions where one has to attend lectures to maintain ones registration to continue to practice ones profession. To be a good Mason one has to know what Masonry is all about, and one good method is to read and listen to papers in the Lodge. If you are a Freemason, you have to understand the beauty of Freemasonry.